Nonspecific esterases of mammalian testis. Comparative studies on the mouse (Mus musculus) and rat (rattus norvegicus)

Estrogen-regulated genes in rat testes and their relationship to recovery of spermatogenesis after irradiation

Despite numerous observations of the effects of estrogens on spermatogenesis, identification of estrogen-regulated genes in the testis is limited. Using rats in which irradiation had completely blocked spermatogonial differentiation, we previously showed that testosterone suppression with gonadotropin-releasing hormone-antagonist acyline and the antiandrogen flutamide stimulated spermatogenic recovery and that addition of estradiol (E2) to this regimen accelerated this recovery. We report here the global changes in testicular cell gene expression induced by the E2 treatment. By minimizing the changes in other hormones and using concurrent data on regulation of the genes by these hormones, we were able to dissect the effects of estrogen on gene expression, independent of gonadotropin or testosterone changes. Expression of 20 genes, largely in somatic cells, was up- or downregulated between 2- and 5-fold by E2. The unexpected and striking enrichment of transcripts not corresponding to known genes among the E2-downregulated probes suggested that these might represent noncoding mRNAs; indeed, we have identified several as miRNAs and their potential target genes in this system. We propose that genes for which expression levels are altered in one direction by irradiation and in the opposite direction by both testosterone suppression and E2 treatment are candidates for controlling the block in differentiation. Several genes, including insulin-like 3 (Insl3), satisfied those criteria. If they are indeed involved in the inhibition of spermatogonial differentiation, they may be candidate targets for treatments to enhance recovery of spermatogenesis following gonadotoxic exposures, such as those resulting from cancer therapy.

Changes in gene expression in somatic cells of rat testes resulting from hormonal modulation and radiation-induced germ cell depletion

Although gonadotropins and androgen are required for normal spermatogenesis and both testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are responsible for the inhibition of spermatogonial differentiation that occurs in irradiated rats, it has been difficult to identify the specific genes involved. To study specific hormonally regulated changes in somatic cell gene expression in the testis that may be involved in these processes, without the complication of changing populations of germ cells, we used irradiated LBNF(1) rats, the testes of which contain almost exclusively somatic cells except for a few type A spermatogonia. Three different groups of these rats were treated with various combinations of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist, an androgen receptor antagonist (flutamide), testosterone, and FSH, and we compared the gene expression levels 2 wk later to those of irradiated-only rats by microarray analysis. By dividing the gene expression patterns into three major patterns and 11 subpatterns, we successfully distinguished, in a single study, the genes that were specifically regulated by testosterone, by luteinizing hormone (LH), and by FSH from the large number of genes that were not hormonally regulated in the testis. We found that hormones produced more dramatic upregulation than downregulation of gene expression: Testosterone had the strongest upregulatory effect, LH had a modest but appreciable upregulatory effect, and FSH had a minor upregulatory effect. We also separately identified the somatic cell genes that were chronically upregulated by irradiation. Thus, the present study identified gene expression changes that may be responsible for hormonal action on somatic cells to support normal spermatogenesis and the hormone-mediated block in spermatogonial development after irradiation.

Parathion effects on protein synthesis in the seminiferous tubules of mice

Agropesticides impart high risks of exposure for animals including humans. This work analysed the effect of parathion upon protein synthesis in seminiferous tubules cultured in vitro from adult male CF1 mice. They were incubated with parathion solutions (0.8, 0.4, 0.04, 0.004, 0.0004 mM) for 5 h. One hour after ending incubation tritiated leucine was added to each sample. In addition, groups treated with 0.8 mM parathion were incubated for 5 h, and thereafter transferred to a parathion-free medium; tritiated leucine incorporation was measured 1, 2, or 3 h afterwards. Results of protein synthesis denote an inhibitory dose-dependent effect of parathion. This is reversed after pesticide-free incubation. Testicular protein synthesis inhibition induced by parathion may compromise male fertility in view of the fact that, in spermatogenesis, proliferation (mitosis, meiosis) and cell differentiation occurs.

Occupational pesticide exposure and semen quality among Chinese workers

This study investigated the association between occupational pesticide exposure and semen quality among Chinese workers. Male workers, 32 who were exposed to organophosphate pesticides and 43 who were not exposed were recruited from two nearby factories and interviewed. Following a work shift, semen and urine samples were collected for pesticide metabolite analysis. Semen samples were analyzed for sperm concentration, percentage of motility, and percentage of normal structure. Within the exposed group, the mean end-of-shift urinary p-nitrophenol levels were 0.22 and 0.15 mg/L for the high- and low-exposure subgroups, respectively. Linear regression analysis of individual semen parameters revealed a significant reduction of sperm concentration (35.9 x 10(6) vs 62.8 x 10(6), p < 0.01) and percentage of motility (47% vs 57%, p = 0.03) but not percentage of sperm with normal structure (57% vs 61%, p = 0.13). Multivariate modeling showed a significant overall shift in the mean semen parameter. Occupational exposure to ethylparathion and methamidophos seems to have a moderately adverse effect on semen quality.

Esterase-1: developmental expression in the mouse and distribution of related proteins in other species

Esterase 1 (Es-1) is a sexually dimorphic 65-kDa glycoprotein present in plasma and other murine tissues able to hydrolyze a variety of esters including fatty acid esters of estradiol. Like most other carboxylesterases, its function is unknown. To gain insight into the function of Es-1 and by analogy other carboxylesterases, we have examined the developmental regulation of Es-1 in the mouse and have looked for the presence of related proteins in the plasma of other species. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from the livers of mice of various ages using a 32P-labeled 470-bp Es-1 cDNA probe showed clear postpartum induction with no detectable Es-1 mRNA in fetal liver. Similarly, immunoblotting after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an affinity-purified rabbit antibody to Es-1 showed no cross-reacting proteins in the plasma until after birth. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from a variety of adult mouse tissues showed the presence of substantial levels of Es-1 mRNA only in liver with lower levels in kidney, testes, and ovaries. Liver mRNA and plasma protein levels rose in parallel attaining full adult levels between 15 and 20 days of age. When plasma proteins were electrophoresed on 7% polyacrylamide gels under nondenaturing conditions, the antibody to Es-1 recognized a low mobility protein in mouse, rat, human, baboon, guinea pig, bovine, horse, and canine but not in chicken plasma. Consistent with the immunoblotting results, the Es-1 cDNA probe hybridized to restriction fragments from human, monkey, rat, and rabbit as well as mouse genomic DNA but not from chicken DNA indicating conservation of the esterase (or esterase-like) gene in mammalian species. The low mobility antigens in mouse and human plasma appeared also to cross-react with antibodies to human thyroglobulin, although antibodies to human thyroglobulin did not appear to recognize Es-1 under these conditions.

The effects of tri-o-cresyl phosphate and metabolites on rat Sertoli cell function in primary culture

A neurotoxic organophosphate, tri-o-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) is also a testicular toxicant. Histopathologic damage in the testis is first seen in Sertoli cells. TOCP and its activated metabolite saligenin cyclic-o-tolyl phosphate (SCOTP) were evaluated for effects on rat Sertoli cells in primary culture. SCOTP, but not TOCP, caused minor morphologic effects on the cells and increased levels of lactate in the spent medium with no change in pyruvate levels, synthesis of cellular or secreted proteins, or the cyclic AMP response to FSH stimulation. SCOTP was the metabolite of TOCP that produced the largest decrease in nonspecific esterase activity in Sertoli cells (up to 80%), when tested in the concentration range found in vivo. This decrease is consistent with previous in vivo evidence. These in vitro experiments replicate previously observed in vivo biochemical effects and suggest that SCOTP is the metabolite responsible for at least some of the biochemical effects seen in the testis after TOCP exposure.

The interaction of Sertoli and Leydig cells in the testicular toxicity of tri-o-cresyl phosphate

Previous studies have shown that after dosing with tri-o-cresyl phosphate (TOCP), the testis contains more active intermediate (saligenin cyclic-o-tolyl phosphate; SCOTP) than do other organs or blood. SCOTP is produced by a cytochrome P450-dependent reaction, and the Sertoli cells, although containing little P450, are the testicular cells that show the first signs of damage after TOCP administration. The present studies evaluated (i) whether testicular Leydig cell production of SCOTP might explain the elevated testicular concentration of SCOTP, (ii) if this production affected testosterone secretion, and (iii) if Sertoli cells cocultured over TOCP-exposed Leydig cells would show effects similar to those found after SCOTP exposure of Sertoli cells in vitro, indicating a cell interaction. Previous data showed that a target enzyme for SCOTP in Sertoli cells, nonspecific esterase (NSE), was inhibited by exposure in vitro to SCOTP, but not to TOCP. In the present experiments, HPLC analysis identified SCOTP in media from Leydig cells cultured with radiolabeled TOCP, demonstrating activation. TOCP addition to Leydig cells decreased testosterone output after stimulation with hCG, an effect that was replicated by subsequent in vivo experiments. Addition of various intermediates in the testosterone biosynthesis pathway indicated that both mitochondrial- and microsomal-based steps in the pathway were affected. Collectively, these data indicate that Leydig cells can activate TOCP. To model whether this activation might affect Sertoli cells in vivo, Sertoli cells were plated in culture-well inserts suspended above (cocultured with) isolated Leydig cells in the presence of TOCP. Sertoli NSE activity was diminished, while remaining unchanged when cultured in the presence of TOCP but without Leydig cells, or over Leydig cells alone. These results show that the Leydig cells in the testis are capable of activating TOCP to SCOTP, and that this can produce effects in Sertoli cells. This in situ activation of TOCP to SCOTP may help explain why the testis contains high concentrations of SCOTP after in vivo dosing with TOCP, and why the testis is a target organ for TOCP toxicity.

Micro two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of serum and testis esterases from different strains of mice

Two-dimensional electrophoresis with time-dependent polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis (PAGGE) in the second dimension was applied to the separation of native molecular forms of esterases from serum and testis of four strains of mice (C57BL/6J, Swiss OF1, F1 hybrid derived from these two populations and Tfm). In Phast System, a modified pH 3-9 gradient, a linear 8-25% gel gradient and a migration time corresponding to 300 Vh, were found to provide the best conditions for esterase analysis. About 70 esterase-active fractions could be separated with good reproducibility. The variants were characterized by their pI (3.9-7.35), their relative mobility and the visual estimation of their susceptibility towards neuraminidase and different esterase inhibitors. In the two tissues, the distribution of the esterase variants corresponded to a 50-500 kDa molecular mass range of calibration proteins, but most of the serum and testis-specific isoforms were confined to the 59-72 kDa range. All serum variants contained a terminal N-acetylneuraminic acid residue, whereas only the testicular esterases in common with those in serum appeared sensitive to neuraminidase. Cholinesterases with a low relative mobility and carboxylesterases with a high relative mobility were detected in serum, while carboxylesterases accounted for the greatest part in the testis which also contained cholinesterases and acetylesterases. Minor interspecies differences were found between C57BL/6J and Swiss OF1 esterases. The expression of two variants which differed between these two species seemed intermediate for the hybrid originating from these two populations. Two new spots were detected in the two-dimensional map of esterases from the strain bearing the Tfm mutation.

Electrophoretic characterization of mouse epididymal esterases in inbred lines and in a natural population

Esterase isozymes were studied in mouse epididymis of two inbred strains (C57BL, DBA/2) and in a natural population (Swiss OF1), by using vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and staining with alpha or beta-naphthyl acetate as a substrate. Eighteen (C57BL), 17 (DBA/2) or 16 (Swiss OF1) epididymal isozymes were separated; four were common to the testis, and five to both the testis and the serum. The use of different inhibitors showed that carboxylesterase activities account for the greater part of the total epididymis non-specific esterase activity. This comparative study revealed minor interspecies variations since only two isozymes were not expressed in the same manner in the three populations examined. Among the nine isozymes which appeared solely in the epididymis, the profiles varied between tissues and fluids as well as between the proximal part in which sperm maturation occurs and the distal part where sperm storage takes place. The variations proceeded from the relative activity of isozymes and the presence or absence of some of them; two characterized the proximal part and one the distal part in the three species. By comparing testis and epididymal tissues and fluids, it is suggested that the isozymes found in epididymal fluids originated from the testis, the epididymal epithelium or both. In addition to this epididymal secretory function, the lack in the fluid of the distal part of one isozyme identified in the testis, and two in the proximal part may also provide evidence for its reabsorptive function.